Well, I meant to post this last Monday…oops.  These past few weeks have been very busy.  Getting in last minute travels, wrapping up assignments and projects at work, and spending time with friends as many began heading home for the holidays, all has kept me quite busy.

Two weekends ago I went to Panajachel, which is located on the beautiful high altitude volcanic lake Atitlan, with some friends.  We shopped in their market district and had a very tasty Italian dinner.  The next morning we woke up early and took a nice little boat ride around parts of the lake before eating breakfast. 
 

Then on after breakfast on Sunday, we headed from the lake to Pacayá, one of the volcanoes visible from my balcony.  We met up with some other friends and a Peace Corps volunteer and climbed the volcano in the afternoon.  It was incredible!  I’ve never experienced anything like it before.  It was amazing beautiful in a very eerie, unique way.  I took some video, but couldn’t upload them correctly; you'll have to just see them in person.

This past Saturday morning a friend and I went to the market to do some final Christmas shopping, and then in the evening a bunch of us gathered outside of town to watch a firework display from someone’s roof.  Pollo Campero, a fast food fried chicken chain, puts on a 30 minute firework show in several countries around Christmas each year.  Spectacular!

On Sunday, some people from work and I went to a small village about an hour away, called San Juan Comalapa.  It’s a very artistic village.  We learned about primitive paintings and watched a woman making traditional textiles.  After a very delicious, traditional lunch, we headed over to the museum in tribute to the composer of the national anthem.

Now, back in Guate, I am preparing to head home.  I am finishing my last few days at work, paying my last bills, and planning my packing strategy.  I don’t know if I will post again before I return to Holland.  I have had a wonderful time here in Guatemala.  The country is absolutely beautiful; the people are wonderful and fun; and the weather is incredible (I may miss this the most).  Thanks to everyone for your prayers and emails.  Tengo muchas ganas de verles y contarles cuando regrese.  I can’t wait to see and talk to y’all once I get back.  Have a beautiful day and a blessed holiday.  ¡Buen día y feliz navidad!  Ciao.

First, a quick story; I forgot to include this is my last post.  I felt my first mini-earthquake (tremor) a little over a week ago.  I was sitting in a friend's living room watching a movie, when suddenly the entire house shifted to the left.  It felt like a wreaking ball or something large had struck the house and moved it a couple feet over.  I was quite a brief but interesting sensation.

Now, about last week.  Well, its was a short week due to Veterans' Day.  As a result the week passed quickly. 

Wednesday, I attended an event honoring American Jazz Great Dike Ellington.  A award-winning Guatemalan poet had written a poem to accompany Duke's classic jazz epic, the Afro Eurasian Eclipse.  It was a very interesting interpretation, yet quite enjoyable. 

Friday, we had a visitor.  I was able to tag along to a trip to Antigua.  She was very energetic and excited about historical Antigua.  I had a lot of fun and got some Christmas shopping in.

Saturday, I assisted one of my co-workers with a scholarship fair.  Our office gives scholarships to local graduate students who would like to study in the States.  It was fun to engage with the students and inform them of this wonderful program.  After the fair, there was a symphonic performance that we attended.  My co-worker left a little early to begin packing up our stuff, but she insisted that I stay to listen to the final number.  Well, after the number the event coordinator made a few comments, so I decided to be polite and stay, especially because I was sitting in the third row.  Then, she started to pass our certificates, and called up a representative of my office, I quickly realized that was me.  So, I randomly got to be an official representative of my office.  Haha...good thing I understood what she was saying; otherwise, that could have been an awkward situation.

Later Saturday evening, I attended a culture event, composed of two groups. Some university students from Del Valle University in Sololá opened with traditional marimba music performed on two very large and ornate wooden marimbas.  Then the Sot’zil Kaquchiquel Group, adorned in fantastic vibrant costumes, retold traditional stories about the balance and struggle between nature and man from the Maya sacred book through an energetic drama, several Mayan songs, and a Mayan dance number. The performers came from Sololá, Guatemala’s most traditional Mayan department. 

On Sunday, some friends and I had planned to climb Pacayá, an active volcano just south of town.  Unfortunately, all of our friends with cars were busy and the drivers we know quote ridiculously high prices.  So instead, we ended up getting pizza and watching a movie.  My active, exciting Sunday afternoon became lazy and relaxing but, nonetheless, enjoyable.  We have now made plans to climb Pacayá next Thursday in the evening.  I won't spectacular photos unfortunately because it'll be dark, but it is suppose to be incredible at night, the lava glows a deep red.

Although my week seemed busy with activities, I don't have any new photos to post.  However, this weekend I am heading up to Tikal to see the Mayan ruins, so I will have a ton of pics very soon.

My time here is quickly winding down, and I am frantically trying to see the rest of the country.  I will miss this place, yet I am excited to see all of you and be back in time for Christmas.  Have a blessed Thanksgiving!  I am greatly thankful for each one of you.  A co-worker has invited me to come to dinner at her place with her and her guests for the States.  It'll be nice to have a nice traditional Thanksgiving meal.  Hasta nos hablamos.  Ciao.

November has arrived in Guatemala, but the weather hasn't changed.  I guess that why they call Guatemala 'the land of the eternal spring'. This weather is wonderful, and I will miss it greatly.  It will definitely be a shock returning to snow-covered Michigan.  

Well, the elections came and went with hardly any violence and unrest.  Colom took the presidency much to several people's surprise and the “Mano Dura” (the tough hand on violence) lost.  An interesting anecdote, no alcohol of any kind may be sold (or even consumed) beginning at 6pm the day before the elections until the morning of the day after the elections.  Needless to say, my neighborhood, usually busy with nightlife on Saturdays, was dead.  This is most likely the reason Antigua was not crowded (see more below).

Last week, I gave a presentation to a large gathering of journalists, professors, and professionals about blogs in Guatemala and the future of electronic media here.  It was a great success and hopefully the first of many similar roundtables.  I was very nervous prior to the presentation.  I have never practiced so much for a 30 minute speech in all of my academic career.  In fact, I love presentations.  The catch was I delivered it completely in Spanish to native Spanish speakers.  A task I had never before attempted.  Well, I survived, the audience was very gracious and every declared it as a wonderful success.  My boss added this was something I need to add to the resume...speech conducted in Spanish. 

So now that November has arrived, it means I have one month remaining.  In some ways it seems like I have been here forever, yet in others I have just arrived.  I have a ton of sight-seeing to accomplish yet.  Hopefully, I will climb Pacayá this weekend. and I may see the Mayan ruins in the north next weekend, after Thanksgiving of course.

I hope you all enjoyed Veterans' Day as much as I did.  We had a wonderful service at church on Sunday with many dignitaries from over 10 nations.  Also, I had Monday off...a nice relaxing day.  Okay, thanks for all your support.  Have a great (possibly short) week!

As promised, Pictures! (you can go directly to my pictures at pics.livejournal.com/ryan-in-guate) 

All Saints' Day (or Todos Santos) is celebrated uniquely around here.  The descendants of the deceased gather in cemeteries after mass and fly kites from decorated graves.  Local tradition suggests the kites when flying high in the sky are a link between this world and the next.  I had a chance to go to Sacatepequez, where the kites have taken on a festive feel bringing in hundreds of people from all over the world.  See Kite Pics Here

A couple days later, some friends and I went to Antigua Guatemala, the old capital as the name suggests.  It is a beautiful, historic town.  There were very few people, so it was not nearly as crowded as usually (or so I was told).  We spent the day wandering around the wonderful town, looking in shops, eating lunch, and touring old churches and convents.  This city is one of the highest concentrations of US citizens in Guatemala.  Hundreds of retired ex-pats now call lovely Antigua home.  See Antigua Pics Here

Well, I am sorry it's taken me over two weeks to post again.  I really meant to do it sooner...but forgot.  Anyway, the last couple weeks have been great.  After returning from Salvador, I have been quite busy at work.  We had three different groups of people visiting from the US and Mexico during the past two weeks.  So I have been busy coordinating those visits and attending pretty much all of their meetings, presentations, and visits.  

Therefore, I've now visited three universities both in Guatemala City and in the highlands.  I also visited a youth center just outside the city that promotes after school programs to stem gang recruitment.  While at that center, I met the only other gringo there, a college student from the states...Grand Rapids no less.  So that was really funny.  And we chatted for awhile as the kids preformed their break-dance skills for us.

Then last week, I was able to travel to Sololá and Lake Atitlan.  This is a huge inland volcanic lake.  The water is crystal clear and it's surrounded by huge mountains and three active volcanoes.  It was truly an unbelievable sight.  Unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera because it was a work related trip and didn't think it would be appropriate.  But I am definitely going to make the 4 hour trip again.

Yesterday, our bible study had a bbq at someone's house.  It was amazing as well.  It's an ecohouse that is located in the mountains just outside the city.  An beautiful place to live.  I had a great time socializing with the people, eating and playing games.  Then a bunch of us went to see Hairspray at the theater.  Wow, I love Guatemala...$5 got me a movie ticket, large popcorn, and drink.  I think I might have a heart attack the first time I go to a movie back home.

Well, this week doesn't look to busy.  I am working a couple long term projects, while my boss is back in the states.  This Thursday, I am heading to the Kite Festival.  I will have more info and pictures about the festival later.  Then Friday and/or Saturday some of us may go to Antigua, a colonial town an hour away.  Again, more info and pictures later.  And then Sunday is the presidential election, and I hoping to assist with observation.  This is an exciting time for Guatemala, and I am excited to share in their experience.

Finally, the El Salvador pics that I promised sooooo long ago...again I'm sorry for the delay.  Ok, well this was a long entry.  Have a wonderful week.  I will try to post again next week with pics and updates.  I love you all.  God bless!  Ciao.

So I realize it's been over a week since I posted...oops, sorry.  This past weekend was a long one for us.  The great thing about my office is we celebrate all US and Guatemalan holidays.  So I didn't have to work on Columbus Day.  And every Friday we close at noon.  So I have Friday at noon until Tuesday morning off.  It was very nice and relaxing.  Friday afternoon, I found a local supermarket within walking distance (1 mile) from my apartment building, so now I can buy food without hailing a taxi.

My big adventure of the weekend was on Saturday.  A few friends from church and I attended the Black Eyed Peas concert.  It was much cheaper than in the states and a blast.  We waited in line for a few hours to get good seats, but we made a picnic out of it.  Plus, it was a ton of fun listening to all the Guatemalans sing all the English words.  During songs like Fergilious and London Bridge, I wondered if there understood what they were singing.  Nonetheless, we had a great time...and the traffic after was crazy.

I also got a cell phone this weekend.  So now I am officially hooked up (cable, internet, phone, and cellular).  This weekend I think I'm going shopping at a traditional market (maybe buy some gifts for y'all back home) and visit the zoo.  It's suppose to be the best zoo in Central America...plus there are native animals like spider monkeys and jaguars.  I'll let you know how it is later.  Have a great evening!  Ciao.

I have the internet at work and not at home.  This weekend I learned how much I depend on the internet not just for information and entertainment but also for comfort.  It's like a loyal friend...an extremely intelligent and well-informed friend.  Anyway, hopefully, I will have internet in my apartment soon.  Today has been great at work, I have a few projects to work on in addition to my usual morning tasks.  I have some out-of-the-office functions later this week, which I am looking forward to.  Ok, I need to get back to work.  Ciao.

Oh, one more thing, I have added pics of My Apartment.  I haven't had a chance to take any pics of the view from my balcony. It's been rainy these past couple days and the low clouds obscure the mountains and volcanoes.

So today is Wednesday.  I fly out tomorrow, Thursday, at 7:45am from O'Hare, stop in Texas, and arrive in Guate at 1:18pm local time (3:18pm back home in Michigan).  I finished packing last night, and I'm running around Holland today trying to tie up any loose ends.  I just stopped at a computer to check my email in between photocopying my passport and filling up the car with gas.  I know this will be an interesting, learning, exciting journey for me, yet I am quite anixous.  Well, I better go; I'm meeting a good friend for lunch.  Last meal in Holland for a while...Froggy's or NHBC?  Tough question.  Keep me in your prayers.  I will post soon, hopefully.  Ciao.

Hi All-  I just recently realized that I leave for Guatemala (a.k.a. Guate or as I like to call it...G-Mala) in a couple short weeks.  Therefore, I decided I should create some sort of online blog or journal for those of you who wanted to stay up to date.  For those of you who don't know, I am fortunate enough to have a wonderful opportunity to intern in my field of study in Guatemala City for three months.  My journey officially begins Sept 20, but I thought I would add a quite post.  I wish I could send everyone personalized emails, but that is just beyond the realm of possibility.  I hope you find this site entertaining and informative as I share my journey, experiences, challenges, and excitements with you.  Please, post here or email me.  Have a great day!  Ciao.